President Vladimir Putin wins Russian presidential election with around 88 percent of votes on Sunday, exit polls and first results showed, cementing his grip on power though thousands of opponents staged a noon protest at polling booths and the United States said the vote was neither free nor fair. Putin will remain the President of Russia till 2030In the counting of votes after the completion of three days of voting in Russia, President Vladimir Putin has got 87.97 votes out of the total votes cast. Thus, Putin has won the election and will remain the President of Russia till 2030. Earlier, the voting process for the presidential election was completed on Sunday. Of the total 11.42 crore voters, 72.84 percent voted in three days. Putin has been in power in Russia as President and Prime Minister since 1999. When Boris Yeltsin handed over the reins of power to him due to poor health, Russia was facing many challenges to its existence.Will surpass Joseph StalinHe is now on track to surpass Joseph Stalin to become the longest-serving leader in Russias 200-year history. The 2024 elections in Russia are being held as the third year of the Ukraine war has begun. This early result means Putin, who came to power in 1999, wins a new fifth-year term. Putins strongest political opponentPutins most vocal political opponent, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison last month, and his other critics are either in prison or in exile. Putin faces three rivals from Kremlin-friendly parties who have avoided any criticism of his 24-year rule or his invasion of Ukraine two years ago.
